If you had the power to do anything you wanted, to fly, heal or create, but you knew that using that power would slowly kill those around you, would you use it?
鈥淎fter all, how are you to know you're special unless someone else is being treated as less than you?鈥
In Cliodhna O鈥橲ullivan鈥檚 debut novel, "Her Hidden Fire," 脡adha is merely a servant to a crumbling great Family. While her status is low, her heart is big, especially when it comes to Ion谩in, the great Family鈥檚 son. Her heart is so big that when she discovers she has a very special gift, she is willing to sacrifice it to keep Ion谩in and his family safe.
It seems like the perfect idea, until they are shipped off to a remote island with others who share the same gift, and she is forced to suppress her power from a host of masters. There, she also discovers the dark truth behind the magic that flows through the land. 脡adha decides not only to continue protecting Ion谩in, but also all those who suffer the repercussions of this special power, even at the cost of her own life
"Her Hidden Fire" explores themes of abuse, patriarchy, power, tyranny and the cost of loyalty. While these themes are not for everyone, they are told through a fantastical Irish setting that will appeal to lovers of Gaelic-inspired fantasy. From soaring dragons to deep lagoons, the setting is stunning throughout the novel.
O鈥橲ullivan delivers her heavy yet powerful themes through richly developed characters readers can connect with and grow alongside as the story unfolds. Her writing invites readers to laugh when the characters laugh, cry when they cry and soar when they soar. She also weaves a steamy romance and a love triangle into a story filled with high stakes and intense battles.
The author is not afraid to ask difficult questions. If you had the power to do anything, would you use it knowing it slowly killed those around you? Would you sacrifice your own life to protect those you love most, even if they didn't appreciate it?
鈥淗ow you don鈥檛 seem to understand just how extraordinary you are. Someone with your kind of power choosing not to use it, even though it could make you the most valued, the most cherished apprentice on these islands.鈥
O鈥橲ullivan will have readers on the edge of their seats on many occasions. Prepare a box of tissues, and possibly a pillow to scream into. Most of all, prepare to fall in love not only with the world she creates, but with the characters who inhabit it.
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